Man charged in deadly Carleton Street fire

Construction workers cut plywood to cover the windows of this Carleton Street home in Cornwall, Ont. Thursday, March 30, 2017. Cornwall police have charged a person in relation to the deadly fire. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston)

CORNWALL – A Cornwall man has been charged in relation to a deadly fire Sunday on Carleton Street in the city’s east end.

The Cornwall Community Police Service announced today (Thursday) that Andrew Ross, 27, of Cornwall is facing a dozen charges including criminal negligence causing death, arson, mischief, drug possession and breach of probation for having an explosive substance.

The fire in the two-storey apartment building, near Easton Avenue, killed one man.

Police have identified him as Michel Lalonde, 67, of Cornwall.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s office has concluded that volatile substances were being used to extract cannabis resin from marijuana when the vapours caught fire, causing an explosion, the CCPS said.

The OFM told Cornwall Newswatch today (Thursday) they had turned the case back over to the Cornwall Community Police Service.

Meanwhile, at the scene today, workers were boarding up the windows in the building while security surveyed the location.